New guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Dongirolwhi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Dongirolwhi’ characterized by its relatively compact, upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; glossy and dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; medium to large ruffled flowers that are bright white in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DONGIROLWHI’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dongirolwhi’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely branching and early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with large attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2017 in Koka, Ethiopia of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Rococo White 2017’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Impatiens hawkeri ‘Rococo Blanca’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. in April, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dongirolwhi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dongirolwhi’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright to outwardly spreading and         uniformly mounding plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Glossy and dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Medium to large ruffled flowers that are bright white in         color.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Rococo White 2017’. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Rococo White 2017’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are more ruffled and         undulating than flowers of plants of ‘Rococo White 2017’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are bright white in         color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Rococo White 2017’ are white         in color slightly tinged with pink.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Rococo Blanca’. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Rococo Blanca’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Rococo Blanca’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are more ruffled and         undulating than flowers of plants of ‘Rococo Blanca’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are brighter white in         color than flowers of plants of ‘Rococo Blanca’.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Kironanete’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,753. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Kironanete’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of         ‘Kironanete’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are more ruffled than         flowers of plants of ‘Kironanete’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are bright white in         color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Kironanete’ are dark cherry         red in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Moorea’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,147. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Moorea’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Moorea’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are more ruffled and         undulating than flowers of plants of ‘Moorea’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are brighter white in         color than flowers of plants of ‘Moorea’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongirolwhi’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongirolwhi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C., night temperatures averaged 20° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000 to 4,500 lux. Plants were 14 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongirolwhi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Impatiens hawkeri ‘Rococo White             2017’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Impatiens hawkeri ‘Rococo Blanca’,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at day temperatures about 27° C. and night             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27° C.             and night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright to             outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit;             broad inverted triangle in overall shape; freely branching             habit; bushy and dense appearance; moderately vigorous             growth habit and moderate growth rate; strong and sturdy             plants.         -   Plant height.—About 23 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 42 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with about five to seven             primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary             branches.         -   Length.—About 19 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 5 cm to 7 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to about 60° from vertical.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 144A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Typically in whorls or opposite; simple; leaves             are durable.         -   Length.—About 11 cm.         -   Width.—About 4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker green than             147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than between             147A and N189A; midvein, proximally, close to 144A to 144B             and distally, close to 147A; and lateral venation, darker             green than between 147A and N189A. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 147B; midvein, proximally, close to             144A to 144B and distally, close to 144B; and lateral             venation, close to 146A.         -   Petiole length.—About 5.1 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Petiole texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy.         -   Petiole texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Medium to large ruffled             single axillary flowers that are rounded to rounded             rectangular in shape; freely flowering habit, typically             about five to six flower buds and opened flowers per lateral             branch; flowers are positioned above and beyond the foliar             plane, flowers typically face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about four to seven             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about ten weeks from unrooted cuttings.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: Close to 144A to 144B.         -   Flower diameter.—Medium to large, about 6.3 cm by 6.7 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.75 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl with one banner petal, two lateral petals and             two lower petals. Length, banner petal: About 3.5 cm.             Length, lateral petals: About 3 cm. Length, lower petals:             About 3.3 cm. Width, banner petal: About 5.6 cm. Width,             lateral petals: About 3.5 cm. Width, lower petals: About             4.3 cm. Shape, all petals: Broadly obcorate. Apex, all             petals: Emarginate. Base, all petals: Attenuate. Margin, all             petals: Entire; undulate and ruffled with occasional             indentations. Texture and luster, all petals, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy;             iridescent. Color, all petals: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; venation, close to             NN155D; color does not change with development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155D; faint             central blush, close to 144A; venation, close to NN155D with             exception of banner midvein which is close to 144A; color             does not change with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             two laterals are opposite and the third modified into an             elongated spur. Lateral sepal length: About 9 mm. Lateral             sepal width: About 6 mm. Lateral sepal shape: Broadly             deltoid to ovate. Lateral sepal apex: Acuminate. Lateral             sepal base: Truncate. Lateral sepal margin: Entire, not             undulate. Lateral sepal texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Lateral sepal             color, upper surface: Close to NN155D variably tinged with             close to 144B to 144C. Lateral sepal color, lower surface:             Close to NN155D variably tinged with close to 144A. Spurred             sepal length (not including spur): About 1.5 cm. Spurred             sepal width (proximally): About 1.1 cm. Spurred sepal shape             (proximally): Broadly ovate. Spurred sepal base: Cordate to             truncate. Spurred sepal margin (proximally): Entire, not             undulate. Spurred sepal texture and luster (proximally),             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Spurred sepal color (proximally), upper and lower surfaces:             Close to NN155D; towards the apex, close to 144A. Spur             length: About 3.5 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 2 mm;             at apex, less than 1 mm. Spur shape: Acicular, curved. Spur             texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.             Spur color: Close to NN155D variably tinged with close to             144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Angle: About 45° to 90° from vertical, arching. Strength:             Strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Filament length: About 3.75 mm.             Filament color: Close to 158A. Anther length: About 2.75 mm.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to N155B. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 158A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 4.75 mm.             Stigma shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style             length: About 4.25 mm. Style color: Close to 144A. Ovary             color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Impatiens plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Dongirolwhi’ as illustrated and described. 